John Richards

Dead Can Dance released their 9th studio album 'Dionysus' on this day in 2018. Dionysus is the Greek god of the grape-harvest, winemaking and wine, fertility, orchards and fruit, vegetation, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, festivity and theatre. The more you know!

"Hljómalind," was once a record store in Reykjavík, Iceland. It closed in 2003, and can be translated to mean "a wellspring of sounds" or "a fountain of music."

Prodigy of Mobb Deep was born on this day in 1974, born Albert Johnson. He died June 20, 2017. Check out this stunning mash-up here: emancipator.bandcamp.com Emancipator, aka Doug Appling, was born and raised in Virginia, where he studied violin from ages 4 to 12, progressing to electric guitar, drums, and bass as a teenager. He cites his father's "eclectic music collection" as sparking his interest in electronic music, while his mother "who'd volunteered in the Peace Corps," exposed him to "African thumb pianos and sounds from beyond the Western palette."

"Imagineering is inspired by my travels through Asia pre lockdown 2020," says George Evelyn (AKA Nightmares on Wax). "I’ve always been attracted towards using classical compositions with a street beat approach, classical street beats you could say. I brought in my good friend and longtime collaborator Robin Taylor-firth on keys to give it that classic melancholy Nightmares on Wax sound. Imagineering is an ode to the creativity that surrounds us every day i.e. Ideas that are imagined and then realised." tinyurl.com Check out the official video here: youtu.be

Song of Innocence is the debut album by American composer and producer David Axelrod. Axelrod composed this experimental album as a suite-like tone poem interpreting Songs of Innocence, a 1789 illustrated collection of poems by William Blake.

"'La Naranja' (which means 'the orange' in Spanish) is about facing anxieties," said Helado Negro. "Talking about the end allows us to begin knowing how to deal with the end." -- Read more here: tinyurl.com Find tour dates here: heladonegro.com heladonegro.bandcamp.com

In an interview with Damon Albarn during Gorillaz's 2010 tour of America, he was asked what attracts him to melancholy. He replied: "Well, this morning I woke up and I was on a massive highway, it was grey. The autumn colors were starting to emerge from the green, but there were thousands of people driving their way into Boston to start Monday. On one hand, it's part of the pessimism of our consumer condition; on the other hand, there's a kind of beauty in it, and that's where the melancholy wins for me."

Spiritualized have announced a new album, Everything Was Beautiful, out Feb 25 via Bella Union. The band's Jason Spaceman recorded it in 11 different studios and, in addition to playing a lot of the instruments himself, has his daughter Poppy playing on it. The first single is called "Always Together With You."

Last week John got this amazing email from Russia: Hi, my name is Vasily, i'm from Moscow, Russia. You know this scary country with nuclear weapons, walking bears, caviar, etc. My band is called Zorkiy,(It's actually my surname, in Russian it means "the one with sharp eyes"and we made our first english-language release about a week ago. After the quarantine, and all that is happening in Russia today, we understood that we want with all our hearts to try and make something that would be interesting for the world and people in different countries, so we worked hard and made our first record. For a lot of years we, here, are watching KEXP as a window to the woderful world of amazing new music and we always wanted to become a part of it. It's my honest dream and hope that you' ll find some time to listen to our record. Here are the links to our release music.apple.com open.spotify.com www.youtube.com

Saturdays = Youth is the fifth studio album by French electronic music band M83. This album explores 1980s 'new-wave' tropes and teenage memories, reflecting the soft-focused mythology of eternal summers and young love.

In Ghost Colors is the second studio album by Cut Copy. Lead vocalist, Dan Whitford, said that the sound of In Ghost Colours is the closest the band has come to the sound they are after: "The album is a lot more realised than the first one. I think all of us, when we think of the first one, we agree we sort of got half way there. But on the new one we got a lot closer to the sort of sounds we're after. There are some different aspects to it – more layered, more dynamic, as well as some more loud, dance-y sections to it. And with the guitar there were many-layered sections as well. It got the real highs and lows, the real floaty bits, which I think is sort of a secret to our sound, with a lot of segues so that it just sort of flows together. And I think it's a lot more, kind of... complete." Check out this live performance of So Haunted from Pitchfork in 2013 here: www.youtube.com

We've just got our hands on “Paddle To The Stars,” the new song from Seattle-based seven-piece band The Dip, idebuting today via Dualtone Records—their first release in partnership with the label. Self-produced by the band and recorded at their self-made studio in Seattle’s Central District, “Paddle To The Stars” puts forth the groove-heavy, richly detailed sound the band has become known for, while also intertwining starker elements that complement the lyrics. Reflecting on the song, lead singer Tom Eddy shares, “This song is about a person who was reserved and emotionally unavailable in the past but decides that the person they love is important enough that they’re really going to do whatever it takes to be with that person, even if it will require serious personal growth and honest reflection.” March 4—Seattle, WA—The Showbox at the Market

Makaya McCraven's “Black Rhythm Happening,” is a single from his new remix album, Deciphering The Message. This track is a funky remake of the title track of a 1969 album by the adventurous trumpeter and Sun Ra Arkestra associate, Eddie Gale. Deciphering the Message will out on November 19, 2021.

"Good morning John! My best friend Brad just drove away from Seattle on Sunday- heading to Tennessee. Lot of bittersweet feelings. Could you please play "Tennessee" by Arrested Development (if you can fit it in)? Many thanks. With KEXP, I am not alone, but I feel the emptiness when a friend leaves town. Thank you!" - Eleanor from north Seattle, (Teacher). -- Arrested Development was given an award from Black Music Honors in September of 2019, which acknowledges artists that have made a significant contribution to African-American music. This song includes a sample from Prince's "Alphabet St". Official music video: www.youtube.com

Big Daddy Kane joins ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT in the 1st single from their forthcoming album #fortheFKNlove. The single “VIBE” is now available on all streaming platforms including bandcamp officialarresteddevelopment.bandcamp.com Official video here: youtu.be

From Curtis Mayfield's 1970 debut album, "Curtis," produced and released by Mayfield himself! Mayfield was one of the earliest artists to speak openly about African-American pride and community struggle. Mayfield reflected upon this time (the 1970s) as a "happening era when people stopped wearing tuxedos" and "were getting down a little more."

New single from Spoon off their upcoming tenth studio album "Lucifer on the Sofa", which will be out February 11th, 2022. Don't miss: 'Spoon Shows You Can Always Go Home Again on New Single "The Hardest Cut" (KEXP Premiere)': bit.ly.

"Good measure John - I'm still glowing from last week's Wolf Alice show, so would appreciate hearing "Smile." Thanks!" -- Stevie B from Seattle -- Alice Wolf's vocalist Ellie Rowsell said “This is one of the songs we wrote thinking that we would play it live." bit.ly

New music from Jack White, who produced and played every instrument on this track. It was recorded at his Third Man Studios in Nashville. White made two different versions of “Taking Me Back” — the straight-up rock song from the Call of Duty: Vanguard trailer and a mostly-acoustic old-timey country-folk take called “Taking Me Back (Gently).” bit.ly Compare both versions here: Taking Me Back (Gently) Official Video: youtu.be Taking Me Back (from the Call of Duty: Vanguard trailer): youtu.be

"We came up with the title “Rain Dance” first; it felt primal and mysterious, and seemed to demand something really wild and immediate, so we wrote a really fast song where the guitars were in a different time signature than the rhythm section. For some creepy lyrics, I tried to inhabit the mind of someone with Alzheimer’s, maybe someone apologizing to their child, trying to make sense of their surroundings." --Cameron, vocalist of Geese tinyurl.com geesebandnyc.bandcamp.com

The Police released their debut album Outlandos d'Amour on this day in 1978! Sting claims the lyrics to Can't Stand Losing You took him only five minutes to write. bit.ly

Sympathy For Life is inspired by New York clubs, Primal Scream, and Pink Floyd. “Most of the songs were created by taking long improvisations and molding them through our own editing,” co-frontman Austin Brown said in a statement. “The biggest asset we have as artists is the band. After 10 years together, our greatest instrument is each other. The purest expression of Parquet Courts is when we are improvising." Here's the official video accompanying the track: youtu.be parquetcourts.bandcamp.com

The song was originally titled "Grunggae," a combination of "grunge" and "reggae." The name came from Kim Deal thinking the accented riff resembled the accent in reggae. Mojo magazine, in its May 2013 edition, asked Kim Deal if she had a sense this song would be a hit. She replied: "Did we record a song that opened with me saying, 'Check 1-2,' and then loads of vocal feedback from my brother's harmonica mike, and think, 'This is destined for radio?' That was the sort of thing that didn't get you played on the radio then. We thought no one would play it."

London band Media Giant have shared their debut single, "Afraid of the Dark." They say (tongue-in-cheek): "At Media Giant, we care about you - that’s why we’ve used extensive market research and scientific analysis to determine what makes a hit. 'Afraid of the Dark' is our initial offering, and our studies suggest you will enjoy it’s driving, danceable rhythm and relatable lyrical content.": bit.ly

From their new album Astro Tough, audiobrooks presents this lively tune! “When we had nearly finished the album, we figured that what it needed to complete it was some fun party music. So out came the box of percussion and a tropical tequila-drenched backing track was laid down. The chorus was based on overheard conversations on South London buses. We layered loads of tracks of us shouting and cheering to create a background party noise," --audiobooks, about LaLaLa It's the Good Life. tinyurl.com

Art of Noise named after a 1913 art manifesto, deliberately aspiring to inherit the explosion of early 20th century conceptual creativity and "make Futurists and Dadaists rub shoulders with b-boys and clubbers"! Read more about the album here: pitchfork.com

Wet Leg’s Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers latest single, released last month! Teasdale says “Wet Dream,” the new song: “Wet Dream is a breakup song; it came about when one of my exes went through a stage of texting me after we’d broken up telling me that ‘he had a dream about me’.” Watch the quite interesting lobster-filled video for "Wet Dream": youtu.be wetlegband.com

"Hey John! Any chance we can hear the "new" Radiohead song, Follow me around this morning?" -Karim -- Radiohead have shared “Follow Me Around” from their forthcoming Kid A/Amnesiac reissue Kid A Mnesia—out November 5 via XL. The visual, directed by Us, stars Memento actor Guy Pearce, who panics as he’s followed by the camera. Check it out below. youtu.be Also, below, watch a 1998 soundcheck rehearsal of “Follow Me Around.” youtu.be “Follow Me Around” is among the previously unreleased recordings that’ll appear on Kid Amnesiae, the collection of B-sides and rarities included with the reissue.

Good morning, John! So, on Sunday we were at the Magnetic Fields show at City Winery in NYC. Really great to see them live for a twice-COVID-delayed show - they were incredible, and Stephin Merritt sang deep soulful versions of Papa Was a Rodeo and the Book of Love. I couldn’t help remembering that it was you about 20 years ago playing songs from 69 Love Songs that first turned me onto this band. Thanks to you and KEXP for keeping it going! We are not alone and indeed in this together! Best, -Shane in NYC

The Damned released Machine Gun Etiquette on this day in 1979! Smash It Up is considered to be the band's unofficial anthem. tinyurl.com

This iconic track by Pavement is accompanied by a video of the band's strange experience at the barber shop! Check the video out here: youtu.be Pavement is planning their first tour since 2010! Next September and October, they'll hit venues all across the US including... 09/17/22 – Seattle, WA @ The Paramount Theatre

"Good morning! It's Andrew from NY checking in with an update from I-70 in Kansas: it is very flat.... any chance you can play 'I found that essence rare' by Gang of Four? I think it would help." You got it, Andrew!

A song written on a jog in the Hackney Wick neighborhood of London. Not yet officially released but given to Dewan's fav' radio stations like ye olde KEXP. Look for a feature on this amazing artist in an upcoming episode of Sound and Vision. www.teenagesequence.com

The new album "Things Are Great" is out Jan 21, 2022, with production by the band's lead singer, Ben Bridwell. "I think like a lot of my songs, “Crutch” starts with something from my real life. Obviously “Crutch” means some of the things that I was dependent on. My relationship for one. I think I wanted to say, “I’ve got a crush on you,” and I thought it was funny how relationships also feel like crutches. I feel like everybody has had a time when nothing goes right and you still have to carry on. I think that feeling hits you in this song even if you don’t know what the specifics are." bit.ly Band of Horses are playing at the Paramount in Seattle on November 8th!

Brisbane, Australia's Hatchie (aka Harriet Pilbeam) is covering the Jennifer Paige 1998 hit "Crush." Secretly Canadian has been dropping standalone singles celebrating the label's 25th anniversary, which provides housing and other services to families experiencing homelessness in Secretly Canadian’s hometown of Bloomington, Indiana. More music from Hatchie here: hatchie.bandcamp.com